Farewell to Sita

ततस्तु शिंशपामूले जानकीं पर्यवस्थिताम् ।

tatastu śiṃśapāmūle jānakīṃ paryavasthitām |

Bowing to Janaki, who remained beneath the shimshapa tree,

अभिवाद्याब्रवीद् दिष्ट्या पश्यामि त्वामिहाक्षताम् ॥

abhivādyābravīd diṣṭyā paśyāmi tvāmihākṣatām ||

he said, 'By good fortune I see you here unharmed.'

ततस्तं प्रस्थितं सीता वीक्षमाणा पुनः पुनः ।

tatastaṃ prasthitaṃ sītā vīkṣamāṇā punaḥ punaḥ |

Watching Hanuman repeatedly as he prepared to depart,

भर्तुः स्नेहान्विता वाक्यं हनूमन्तमभाषत ॥

bhartuḥ snehānvitā vākyaṃ hanūmantamabhāṣata ||

Sita, filled with affection for her husband, spoke to him.

यदि त्वं मन्यसे तात वसैकाहमिहानघ ।

yadi tvaṃ manyase tāta vasaikāhamihānagha |

'Dear, blameless one, if you think it right, stay here for a day.

क्वचित् सुसंवृते देशे विश्रान्तः श्वो गमिष्यसि ॥

kvacit susaṃvṛte deśe viśrāntaḥ śvo gamiṣyasi ||

Rest in some well-hidden place and depart tomorrow.

मम चैवाल्पभाग्यायाः सांनिध्यात् तव वानर ।

mama caivālpabhāgyāyāḥ sāṃnidhyāt tava vānara |

Through your presence, vanara, even unfortunate I

शोकस्यास्याप्रमेयस्य मुहूर्तं स्यादपि क्षयः ॥

śokasyāsyāprameyasya muhūrtaṃ syādapi kṣayaḥ ||

might find a moment's relief from this immeasurable sorrow.

गते हि हरिशार्दूल पुनः सम्प्राप्तये त्वयि ।

gate hi hariśārdūla punaḥ samprāptaye tvayi |

Once you have gone, foremost vanara,

प्राणेष्वपि न विश्वासो मम वानरपुङ्गव ॥

prāṇeṣvapi na viśvāso mama vānarapuṅgava ||

I have no certainty that I will remain alive until your return.

अदर्शनं च ते वीर भूयो मां दारयिष्यति ।

adarśanaṃ ca te vīra bhūyo māṃ dārayiṣyati |

Not seeing you will wound me anew, hero,

दुःखाद् दुःखतरं प्राप्तां दुर्मनःशोककर्शिताम् ॥

duḥkhād duḥkhataraṃ prāptāṃ durmanaḥśokakarśitām ||

already passing from sorrow into deeper sorrow, worn by distress.

अयं च वीर संदेहस्तिष्ठतीव ममाग्रतः ।

ayaṃ ca vīra saṃdehastiṣṭhatīva mamāgrataḥ |

Hero, another doubt stands before me,

सुमहत्सु सहायेषु हर्यृक्षेषु महाबलः ॥

sumahatsu sahāyeṣu haryṛkṣeṣu mahābalaḥ ||

concerning those mighty allies, the vanaras and bears.

कथं नु खलु दुष्पारं संतरिष्यति सागरम् ।

kathaṃ nu khalu duṣpāraṃ saṃtariṣyati sāgaram |

How will those armies of vanaras and bears,

तानि हर्यृक्षसैन्यानि तौ वा नरवरात्मजौ ॥

tāni haryṛkṣasainyāni tau vā naravarātmajau ||

and those two noble princes, cross the difficult ocean?

त्रयाणामेव भूतानां सागरस्यापि लङ्घने ।

trayāṇāmeva bhūtānāṃ sāgarasyāpi laṅghane |

Only three beings seem capable of crossing the sea:

शक्तिः स्याद् वैनतेयस्य तव वा मारुतस्य वा ॥

śaktiḥ syād vainateyasya tava vā mārutasya vā ||

Garuda, you, and the Wind.

तदत्र कार्यनिर्बन्धे समुत्पन्ने दुरासदे ।

tadatra kāryanirbandhe samutpanne durāsade |

When this formidable obstacle confronts the undertaking,

किं पश्यसि समाधानं त्वं हि कार्यविशारदः ॥

kiṃ paśyasi samādhānaṃ tvaṃ hi kāryaviśāradaḥ ||

what solution do you see, skilled as you are in action?

काममस्य त्वमेवैकः कार्यस्य परिसाधने ।

kāmamasya tvamevaikaḥ kāryasya parisādhane |

You alone are certainly sufficient to accomplish the task,

पर्याप्तः परवीरघ्न यशस्यस्ते फलोदयः ॥

paryāptaḥ paravīraghna yaśasyaste phalodayaḥ ||

destroyer of enemies; its success would bring you honour.

बलैस्तु संकुलां कृत्वा लङ्कां परबलार्दनः ।

balaistu saṃkulāṃ kṛtvā laṅkāṃ parabalārdanaḥ |

But if Kakutstha filled Lanka with his forces, defeated the enemy

मां नयेद् यदि काकुत्स्थस्तत् तस्य सदृशं भवेत् ॥

māṃ nayed yadi kākutsthastat tasya sadṛśaṃ bhavet ||

and took me away, that would be worthy of him.

तद् यथा तस्य विक्रान्तमनुरूपं महात्मनः ।

tad yathā tasya vikrāntamanurūpaṃ mahātmanaḥ |

Arrange matters so that the deed is worthy

भवत्याहवशूरस्य तथा त्वमुपपादय ॥

bhavatyāhavaśūrasya tathā tvamupapādaya ||

of that noble one's prowess and courage in battle.'

तदर्थोपहितं वाक्यं प्रश्रितं हेतुसंहितम् ।

tadarthopahitaṃ vākyaṃ praśritaṃ hetusaṃhitam |

Hearing those thoughtful, modest and well-reasoned words,

निशम्य हनुमान् वीरो वाक्यमुत्तरमब्रवीत् ॥

niśamya hanumān vīro vākyamuttaramabravīt ||

the hero Hanuman gave his answer.

देवि हर्यृक्षसैन्यानामीश्वरः प्लवतां वरः ।

devi haryṛkṣasainyānāmīśvaraḥ plavatāṃ varaḥ |

'Lady, Sugriva, foremost leaper and lord of the vanara and bear armies,

सुग्रीवः सत्त्वसम्पन्नस्तवार्थे कृतनिश्चयः ॥

sugrīvaḥ sattvasampannastavārthe kṛtaniścayaḥ ||

is resolute and has firmly decided to act for your sake.

स वानरसहस्राणां कोटीभिरभिसंवृतः ।

sa vānarasahasrāṇāṃ koṭībhirabhisaṃvṛtaḥ |

Surrounded by millions upon millions of vanaras,

क्षिप्रमेष्यति वैदेहि सुग्रीवः प्लवगाधिपः ॥

kṣiprameṣyati vaidehi sugrīvaḥ plavagādhipaḥ ||

Sugriva, their lord, will soon come, Vaidehi.

तौ च वीरौ नरवरौ सहितौ रामलक्ष्मणौ ।

tau ca vīrau naravarau sahitau rāmalakṣmaṇau |

Those two excellent heroes, Rama and Lakshmana together,

आगम्य नगरीं लङ्कां सायकैर्विधमिष्यतः ॥

āgamya nagarīṃ laṅkāṃ sāyakairvidhamiṣyataḥ ||

will reach Lanka and shatter the city with their arrows.

सगणं राक्षसं हत्वा नचिराद् रघुनन्दनः ।

sagaṇaṃ rākṣasaṃ hatvā nacirād raghunandanaḥ |

Soon Raghu's descendant will kill the rakshasa with his followers

त्वामादाय वरारोहे स्वां पुरीं प्रति यास्यति ॥

tvāmādāya varārohe svāṃ purīṃ prati yāsyati ||

and take you back to his own city, graceful lady.

समाश्वसिहि भद्रं ते भव त्वं कालकाङ्क्षिणी ।

samāśvasihi bhadraṃ te bhava tvaṃ kālakāṅkṣiṇī |

Take courage; may good be yours. Await the proper time.

क्षिप्रं द्रक्ष्यसि रामेण निहतं रावणं रणे ॥

kṣipraṃ drakṣyasi rāmeṇa nihataṃ rāvaṇaṃ raṇe ||

Soon you will see Ravana slain by Rama in battle.

निहते राक्षसेन्द्रे च सपुत्रामात्यबान्धवे ।

nihate rākṣasendre ca saputrāmātyabāndhave |

When the rakshasa king, his sons, ministers and kinsmen are defeated,

त्वं समेष्यसि रामेण शशाङ्केनेव रोहिणी ॥

tvaṃ sameṣyasi rāmeṇa śaśāṅkeneva rohiṇī ||

you will be reunited with Rama as Rohini is joined with the Moon.

क्षिप्रमेष्यति काकुत्स्थो हर्यृक्षप्रवरैर्युतः ।

kṣiprameṣyati kākutstho haryṛkṣapravarairyutaḥ |

Kakutstha will soon come with the foremost vanaras and bears;

यस्ते युधि विजित्यारीञ्छोकं व्यपनयिष्यति ॥

yaste yudhi vijityārīñchokaṃ vyapanayiṣyati ||

by defeating your enemies, he will remove your grief.'

एवमाश्वास्य वैदेहीं हनूमान् मारुतात्मजः ।

evamāśvāsya vaidehīṃ hanūmān mārutātmajaḥ |

Having comforted Vaidehi, Hanuman, the Wind's son,

गमनाय मतिं कृत्वा वैदेहीमभ्यवादयत् ॥

gamanāya matiṃ kṛtvā vaidehīmabhyavādayat ||

resolved to depart and bowed to her.

राक्षसान् प्रवरान् हत्वा नाम विश्राव्य चात्मनः ।

rākṣasān pravarān hatvā nāma viśrāvya cātmanaḥ |

Having slain eminent rakshasas and made his name known,

समाश्वास्य च वैदेहीं दर्शयित्वा परं बलम् ॥

samāśvāsya ca vaidehīṃ darśayitvā paraṃ balam ||

comforted Vaidehi and displayed his great strength—

नगरीमाकुलां कृत्वा वञ्चयित्वा च रावणम् ।

nagarīmākulāṃ kṛtvā vañcayitvā ca rāvaṇam |

thrown the city into confusion, outwitted Ravana,

दर्शयित्वा बलं घोरं वैदेहीमभिवाद्य च ॥

darśayitvā balaṃ ghoraṃ vaidehīmabhivādya ca ||

shown formidable power and bowed to Vaidehi—

प्रतिगन्तुं मनश्चक्रे पुनर्मध्येन सागरम् ।

pratigantuṃ manaścakre punarmadhyena sāgaram |

he resolved to return again across the ocean.

ततः स कपिशार्दूलः स्वामिसंदर्शनोत्सुकः ॥

tataḥ sa kapiśārdūlaḥ svāmisaṃdarśanotsukaḥ ||

Then the foremost vanara, eager to see his lord—

आरुरोह गिरिश्रेष्ठमरिष्टमरिमर्दनः ।

āruroha giriśreṣṭhamariṣṭamarimardanaḥ |

climbed excellent Mount Arishta, that enemy-subduer,

तुङ्गपद्मकजुष्टाभिर्नीलाभिर्वनराजिभिः ॥

tuṅgapadmakajuṣṭābhirnīlābhirvanarājibhiḥ ||

amid dark forest belts filled with tall padmaka trees.

सोत्तरीयमिवाम्भोदैः शृङ्गान्तरविलम्बिभिः ।

sottarīyamivāmbhodaiḥ śṛṅgāntaravilambibhiḥ |

Clouds hanging between its peaks seemed its upper garment;

बोध्यमानमिव प्रीत्या दिवाकरकरैः शुभैः ॥

bodhyamānamiva prītyā divākarakaraiḥ śubhaiḥ ||

the sun's lovely rays seemed lovingly to awaken it.

उन्मिषन्तमिवोद्‍धूतैर्लोचनैरिव धातुभिः ।

unmiṣantamivoddhūtairlocanairiva dhātubhiḥ |

Its shining minerals seemed opening eyes;

तोयौघनिःस्वनैर्मन्द्रैः प्राधीतमिव पर्वतम् ॥

toyaughaniḥsvanairmandraiḥ prādhītamiva parvatam ||

the deep sounds of flowing waters seemed its recitation.

प्रगीतमिव विस्पष्टं नानाप्रस्रवणस्वनैः ।

pragītamiva vispaṣṭaṃ nānāprasravaṇasvanaiḥ |

Its varied springs seemed to sing clearly,

देवदारुभिरुद्‍धूतैरूर्ध्वबाहुमिव स्थितम् ॥

devadārubhiruddhūtairūrdhvabāhumiva sthitam ||

and its tall deodars stood like uplifted arms.

प्रपातजलनिर्घोषैः प्राक्रुष्टमिव सर्वतः ।

prapātajalanirghoṣaiḥ prākruṣṭamiva sarvataḥ |

The roar of falling water seemed its cry on every side;

वेपमानमिव श्यामैः कम्पमानैः शरद्वनैः ॥

vepamānamiva śyāmaiḥ kampamānaiḥ śaradvanaiḥ ||

its dark, trembling reed thickets made it seem to shiver.

वेणुभिर्मारुतोद्‍धूतैः कूजन्तमिव कीचकैः ।

veṇubhirmārutoddhūtaiḥ kūjantamiva kīcakaiḥ |

Wind-stirred hollow bamboos seemed its whistling;

निःश्वसन्तमिवामर्षाद् घोरैराशीविषोत्तमैः ॥

niḥśvasantamivāmarṣād ghorairāśīviṣottamaiḥ ||

terrible venomous serpents seemed its angry breathing.

नीहारकृतगम्भीरैर्ध्यायन्तमिव गह्वरैः ।

nīhārakṛtagambhīrairdhyāyantamiva gahvaraiḥ |

Its mist-deepened caves seemed absorbed in thought;

मेघपादनिभैः पादैः प्रक्रान्तमिव सर्वतः ॥

meghapādanibhaiḥ pādaiḥ prakrāntamiva sarvataḥ ||

its cloudlike foothills seemed to stride in every direction.

जृम्भमाणमिवाकाशे शिखरैरभ्रमालिभिः ।

jṛmbhamāṇamivākāśe śikharairabhramālibhiḥ |

With cloud-wreathed summits it seemed to yawn into the sky;

कूटैश्च बहुधा कीर्णं शोभितं बहुकन्दरैः ॥

kūṭaiśca bahudhā kīrṇaṃ śobhitaṃ bahukandaraiḥ ||

scattered peaks and many caves adorned it.

सालतालैश्च कर्णैश्च वंशैश्च बहुभिर्वृतम् ।

sālatālaiśca karṇaiśca vaṃśaiśca bahubhirvṛtam |

Sal trees, palms, karna trees and many bamboos surrounded it,

लतावितानैर्विततैः पुष्पवद्भिरलंकृतम् ॥

latāvitānairvitataiḥ puṣpavadbhiralaṃkṛtam ||

while spreading canopies of flowering vines adorned it.

नानामृगगणैः कीर्णं धातुनिष्यन्दभूषितम् ।

nānāmṛgagaṇaiḥ kīrṇaṃ dhātuniṣyandabhūṣitam |

Many kinds of animals occupied it, and mineral streams decorated it;

बहुप्रस्रवणोपेतं शिलासंचयसंकटम् ॥

bahuprasravaṇopetaṃ śilāsaṃcayasaṃkaṭam ||

numerous springs flowed among crowded heaps of stone.

महर्षियक्षगन्धर्वकिंनरोरगसेवितम् ।

maharṣiyakṣagandharvakiṃnaroragasevitam |

Great sages, yakshas, gandharvas, kinnaras and serpents frequented it;

लतापादपसम्बाधं सिंहाधिष्ठितकन्दरम् ॥

latāpādapasambādhaṃ siṃhādhiṣṭhitakandaram ||

vines and trees crowded its slopes, and lions occupied its caves.

व्याघ्रादिभिः समाकीर्णं स्वादुमूलफलद्रुमम् ।

vyāghrādibhiḥ samākīrṇaṃ svādumūlaphaladrumam |

Amid tigers and other animals and trees bearing sweet roots and fruits,

आरुरोहानिलसुतः पर्वतं प्लवगोत्तमः ॥

ārurohānilasutaḥ parvataṃ plavagottamaḥ ||

the Wind's son, foremost vanara, ascended the mountain.

रामदर्शनशीघ्रेण प्रहर्षेणाभिचोदितः ।

rāmadarśanaśīghreṇa praharṣeṇābhicoditaḥ |

Joy and eagerness to see Rama quickly urged him onward.

तेन पादतलक्रान्ता रम्येषु गिरिसानुषु ॥

tena pādatalakrāntā ramyeṣu girisānuṣu ||

On the beautiful slopes, beneath the pressure of his feet—

सघोषाः समशीर्यन्त शिलाश्चूर्णीकृतास्ततः ।

saghoṣāḥ samaśīryanta śilāścūrṇīkṛtāstataḥ |

rocks broke with loud sounds and were crushed to powder.

स तमारुह्य शैलेन्द्रं व्यवर्धत महाकपिः ॥

sa tamāruhya śailendraṃ vyavardhata mahākapiḥ ||

Having climbed the mountain, the great vanara increased his size.

दक्षिणादुत्तरं पारं प्रार्थयँल्लवणाम्भसः ।

dakṣiṇāduttaraṃ pāraṃ prārthayam̐llavaṇāmbhasaḥ |

Wishing to cross the salt sea from its southern to its northern shore,

अधिरुह्य ततो वीरः पर्वतं पवनात्मजः ॥

adhiruhya tato vīraḥ parvataṃ pavanātmajaḥ ||

the heroic Wind's son stood upon the mountain—

ददर्श सागरं भीमं भीमोरगनिषेवितम् ।

dadarśa sāgaraṃ bhīmaṃ bhīmoraganiṣevitam |

and saw the terrible ocean inhabited by fearsome serpents.

स मारुत इवाकाशं मारुतस्यात्मसम्भवः ॥

sa māruta ivākāśaṃ mārutasyātmasambhavaḥ ||

Then the Wind's own son entered the sky like the wind—

प्रपेदे हरिशार्दूलो दक्षिणादुत्तरां दिशम् ।

prapede hariśārdūlo dakṣiṇāduttarāṃ diśam |

that foremost vanara travelling from south towards north.

स तदा पीडितस्तेन कपिना पर्वतोत्तमः ॥

sa tadā pīḍitastena kapinā parvatottamaḥ ||

Pressed by him, the excellent mountain—

ररास विविधैर्भूतैः प्राविशद् वसुधातलम् ।

rarāsa vividhairbhūtaiḥ prāviśad vasudhātalam |

roared with its many creatures and sank into the earth,

कम्पमानैश्च शिखरैः पतद्भिरपि च द्रुमैः ॥

kampamānaiśca śikharaiḥ patadbhirapi ca drumaiḥ ||

its peaks shaking and its trees falling.

तस्योरुवेगोन्मथिताः पादपाः पुष्पशालिनः ।

tasyoruvegonmathitāḥ pādapāḥ puṣpaśālinaḥ |

Flowering trees uprooted by the force of his thighs

निपेतुर्भूतले भग्नाः शक्रायुधहता इव ॥

nipeturbhūtale bhagnāḥ śakrāyudhahatā iva ||

fell broken upon the ground as though struck by Indra's weapon.

कन्दरोदरसंस्थानां पीडितानां महौजसाम् ।

kandarodarasaṃsthānāṃ pīḍitānāṃ mahaujasām |

The terrible roaring of powerful lions,

सिंहानां निनदो भीमो नभो भिन्दन् हि शुश्रुवे ॥

siṃhānāṃ ninado bhīmo nabho bhindan hi śuśruve ||

pressed within their caves, seemed to split the sky.

त्रस्तव्याविद्धवसना व्याकुलीकृतभूषणाः ।

trastavyāviddhavasanā vyākulīkṛtabhūṣaṇāḥ |

Vidyadhara women, terrified, their clothing disordered

विद्याधर्यः समुत्पेतुः सहसा धरणीधरात् ॥

vidyādharyaḥ samutpetuḥ sahasā dharaṇīdharāt ||

and ornaments displaced, suddenly rose from the mountain.

अतिप्रमाणा बलिनो दीप्तजिह्वा महाविषाः ।

atipramāṇā balino dīptajihvā mahāviṣāḥ |

Huge and powerful venomous serpents, their tongues shining,

निपीडितशिरोग्रीवा व्यवेष्टन्त महाहयः ॥

nipīḍitaśirogrīvā vyaveṣṭanta mahāhayaḥ ||

writhed with their heads and necks compressed.

किंनरोरगगन्धर्वयक्षविद्याधरास्तथा ।

kiṃnaroragagandharvayakṣavidyādharāstathā |

Kinnaras, serpents, gandharvas, yakshas and vidyadharas

पीडितं तं नगवरं त्यक्त्वा गगनमास्थिताः ॥

pīḍitaṃ taṃ nagavaraṃ tyaktvā gaganamāsthitāḥ ||

abandoned the distressed mountain and took to the sky.

स च भूमिधरः श्रीमान् बलिना तेन पीडितः ।

sa ca bhūmidharaḥ śrīmān balinā tena pīḍitaḥ |

Pressed by that mighty one, the splendid mountain,

सवृक्षशिखरोदग्रः प्रविवेश रसातलम् ॥

savṛkṣaśikharodagraḥ praviveśa rasātalam ||

with its trees and lofty peaks, sank into the depths below.

दशयोजनविस्तारस्त्रिंशद्योजनमुच्छ्रितः ।

daśayojanavistārastriṃśadyojanamucchritaḥ |

Ten yojanas wide and thirty yojanas high,

धरण्यां समतां यातः स बभूव धराधरः ॥

dharaṇyāṃ samatāṃ yātaḥ sa babhūva dharādharaḥ ||

that mountain became level with the ground.

स लिलङ्घयिषुर्भीमं सलीलं लवणार्णवम् ।

sa lilaṅghayiṣurbhīmaṃ salīlaṃ lavaṇārṇavam |

Wishing easily to cross the dreadful salt ocean,

कल्लोलास्फालवेलान्तमुत्पपात नभो हरिः ॥

kallolāsphālavelāntamutpapāta nabho hariḥ ||

whose waves struck the shore, the vanara leapt into the sky.